IPbus: a flexible Ethernet-based control system for xTCA hardware

The ATCA and mu TCA standards include industry-standard data pathway technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet which can be used for control communication, but no specific hardware control protocol is defined. The IPbus suite of software and firmware implements a reliable high-performance control link for particle physics electronics, and has successfully replaced VME control in several large projects. In this paper, we outline the IPbus control system architecture, and describe recent developments in the reliability, scalability and performance of IPbus systems, carried out in preparation for deployment of mu TCA-based CMS upgrades before the LHC 2015 run. We also discuss plans for future development of the IPbus suite.